Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has dismissed concerns over the activities and criticisms of opposition parties in the state, describing them as mere noise that does not warrant serious attention.
Otti made the remarks while receiving Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe, the member representing Bende North State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling Labour Party.
Speaking during the event, the Governor described the intentions of some opposition figures as insincere, suggesting that many of them are not genuinely interested in contesting elections, but rather in personal gains or long-term recognition.
“We are not bothered about the opposition and their noise. There are different reasons why people show up for elections. Sometimes, they just want recognition; that their names showed up for the primaries, knowing fully well that they will not win the election,” Otti said.
“Some of them also come for negotiations and then of course, some others also show up for projections; they look at themselves and say, ‘if I start the noise in 2025, maybe by 2040, they will know that I have been in the race and they will call me and recognize me’, so they are projecting themselves.”
The Governor emphasised that his administration remains focused on delivering good governance and will continue to counter opposition rhetoric with tangible achievements across the state.
“People are making noise but I respond with work. We are very committed to the job that our people asked us to do. We are doing just that. For us, governance is about stewardship and leadership. And that is what is keeping us here,” he said.
Otti congratulated Hon. Ibekwe on his defection, noting that it was a personal decision made without any external pressure.
He also reiterated that the Labour Party under his leadership does not place excessive emphasis on political platforms when it comes to governance, stressing that the focus is on performance and service delivery.
“Nobody pressurised him to leave his party; it was his voluntary decision,” the Governor said. “The Labour Party does not discriminate. Now that he has joined, he has become a ranking member of the Labour Party. An official reception will be later organised for him.”
In his remarks, Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe said he was inspired to join the Labour Party by the achievements of Governor Otti, which he described as “unprecedented” in the history of the state.
He declared his full support for the Governor’s re-election in 2027, pledging loyalty alongside his supporters.
“This is the best time for Abia people,” Ibekwe said. “We are solidly behind you for 2027.”
